parallel
PAIR-uh-lel
/ˈpærəlɛl/
Positioned alongside and at an equal distance from something else (e.g., parking aligned parallel to the curb).
Implies continuous equal alignment without touching or crossing lines.
The story behind the word. Derived from Greek parallēlos, from para- (beside) and allēlōn (one another)—literally 'beside one another'. Ancient Greek mathematicians used it for lines that never meet. In the 20th century, driving instructors adopted 'parallel parking' for reversing alongside a curb between two cars.
Word relationships
- aligned: Aligned means brought into line, while parallel specifically means side-by-side with constant spacing.
- side-by-side: Side-by-side is conversational and informal.
- perpendicular: Perpendicular means meeting at a right angle (90 degrees).
- intersecting: Intersecting means crossing over each other.
Commonly confused with
- perpendicular: Perpendicular means forming 90-degree right angles, while parallel lines never meet.
Word family
- parallelism (noun): The state or condition of being parallel.
Collocations
- parallel park
- parallel parking
- run parallel to
Idioms & expressions
- draw a parallel
Example sentences
- "To pass the driver's test, you must successfully parallel park without bumping the curb or surrounding cars." Driving test requirement
- "The road ran parallel to the railway line for several miles before entering the city." Urban geometry
Memory hook
Look at the three L's in paraLLeL—they stand straight and paraLLeL to each other! Parallel = Side-by-side at equal distance.
When not to use
Do not use for perpendicular or angle parking arrangements.
Fun facts
- Automatic parallel parking systems introduced in the 2000s use ultrasonic sensors to steer cars into spaces in under ten seconds!
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